Soybean Seedling Diseases

Soybean Seedling Diseases discusses the characteristics of the organisms that cause seedling diseases, describes injury symptoms that may appear similar to these diseases, and addresses how to manage seedling diseases.

SOYBEAN SEEDLING DISEASES

Seedling health can be compromised by plant pathogenic fungi that cause seed rot, seedling death, and root decay. Seedling-infecting fungi are common in soybean fields.

Poor stands may be the first indication of a pathogen problem. Damping-off, or seedling blight, is a general name for infections that occur underground or at the soil surface, toppling the seedlings at the base.

Diseased seedlings are often weak and less vigorous, and severe stand loss may require replanting. Seedling diseases are often more prevalent when wet weather follows planting. They are generally more common in compacted and poorly drained soils or in areas where seedlings have been injured.

Causal pathogens

Phytophthora sojae, several species of Pythium fungi, and Rhizoctonia solani are the most important seedling pathogens in the north-central states. Plant pathologists at Iowa State University have found that Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia account for nearly 90% of disease-related stand reduction problems in Iowa.

Other plant pathogens actively invade plants from growth stages VE to V4 as well, including Fusarium spp., Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, Macrophomina phaseolina (charcoal rot), Fusarium verguliforme (sudden death syndrome), and Phialophora gregata (brown stem rot). Seedling infection by these pathogens may cause chronic symptoms, or the infection can remain latent and cause premature decline of foliage and stems later in the growing season.

Seedborne fungi

Seedborne pathogens can also affect germination. Seed infected with Phomopsis longicola, Cercospora spp. or Fusarium spp. may rot during the germination or emergence phase.

Plant health assessment is important in the seedling stage

Frequently, seedling health is ignored because plant populations are acceptable and stem and leaves do not express symptoms during early vegetative growth. However, notes taken about plant health in the seedling phase can be used to make adjustments in crop management in subsequent years, and may help diagnose symptoms or explain less-than-anticipated yield later in the season.

  • Scouting

    Seedlings killed by Rhizoctonia. Photo: University of Minnesota

    Several fungi can cause stand establishment problems either before or after emergence. When digging in the seed bed, look for rotted or mushy seed. As seedlings emerge, scout for decay on roots and stems. Plant death can be rapid. Often, there can be an uneven distribution of mortality in the field, or the poor stands may be limited to especially wet areas of the field.

    In addition to plant symptoms, gather the following information on the field conditions:

    • general soil temperatures
    • general soil moisture - saturated, wet, dry
    • variety resistance or tolerance to Phytophthora
    • plant growth stage

    Seedling diseases are difficult to correctly diagnose in the field, and it is easy to mistake them for other problems such as herbicide damage. In addition, seedlings may be affected by more than one seedling disease. For these reasons, we recommend sending injured or diseased soybean seedlings to a local diagnostic lab (along with all relevant field information) to confirm the cause before implementing a disease management program. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis will allow you to determine the best management strategies for your soybean field.

    See:
    Soybean Seedling Diseases CPN1008

    Scouting for Soybean Seedlings Diseases and Disorders CPN1009

  • Symptoms

    Root rot caused by Pythium (left) compared to healthy roots. Photo: North Dakota State University

    Poor emergence, and rotted, mushy seed is favored by wet soils. Phytophthora sojae can infect soybean seeds before emergence, causing them to rot. Infection by Pythium spp. also causes a soft, wet rot of seed or seedling tissue similar to that of Phytopthora. Seed-borne fungi such as Phomopsis can also rot seed at germination.

    Damping off is the collective term for infection below or at the soil surface. Plants infected at the seedling stage will show the typical "damping-off" disease symptoms of bruised, soft stems and rotted roots. Plants frequently wilt and die. Also called seedling blight.

    Stem decay may occur at the seedling stage, or may not be apparant until later in the reproductive stages. In seedlings and older plants, a reddish-brown sunken lesion is a characteristic symptom of Rhizoctonia infection. Unlike infection caused by Phytophthora, or Pythium, the infected stems remain firm and dry.

    See Table 1. in Soybean Seedling Diseases (CPN1008) for a comparison of symptoms and distribution of common soybean seedling blights, herbicide damage, and other seedling disorders.

  • Agronomic impact

    Stand reductions may or may not reduce yield. Photo: Soybean Seedling Diseases, CPN 1008

    Pre- and post-emergence diseases of soybean are common in all soybean-growing areas of the United States.

    Seed and seedling diseases reduce stands in the spring, with severity varying from year to year. However, a stand reduction does not always mean a lower yield since the soybean plant is able to compensate for space.

    Some seedling infections remain symptomless until later in the season
    Disease development and yield loss can be significant when seedling infection occurs by major soybean pathogens such as Fusarium virguliforme, the causal agent of sudden death syndrome, or Phialophora gregata, the brown stem rot pathogen.

    These pathogens can infect seedlings in the vegetative phases but cause no symptoms until later in the growing season when the plant reaches reproductive growth stages.

  • Risk Assessment

    Photo: Iowa State University

    Seed and seedling-infecting fungi are common to soybean fields. The fungi are usually associated with soil debris and can survive for long periods in the soil.

    Root and seed exudates stimulate the germination of the fungal spores, which grow and infect the seed or seedling when conditions are favorable. Conditions that favor fungal growth and infection are generally those that slow the germination and growth of the soybean seedling.

    Conditions that favor Pythium and Phytopthora

    • Poorly drained and compacted soils
    • Very early planting, especially if followed by periods of cold stress
    • Heavy periods of rainfall
    • Minimal tillage
    • Poor quality seed
    • Plant stress

    Conditions that favor Rhizoctonia

    • Delayed emergence
    • Moist soil but not saturated
    • Herbicide injury
    • Soil types with high amounts of organic matter
    • Warm soils in late May and June
  • Management

    What to do if seedling diseases are present

    • If dead plants are scattered throughout the field, and no significant stand reduction is apparant, or replanting is not needed, then no action is needed if the disease is Pythium or Rhizoctonia damping-off.
    • If the disease is Phytophthora damping-off and it occurs on a Phytophthora-resistant variety, then your resistance has been defeated by the fungus. Consider using a variety with a better resistance gene for the next soybean crop.
    • Although replanting is not always needed with stand reduction, be aware that root rot, especially Rhizoctonia root rot, and stem decay may appear later in plants that are infected but not killed as seedlings.
    • Take good disease notes and use preventive measures such as seed treatment or resistant varieties to reduce the likelihood of a disease problem in the next soybean crop.

    If replanting is necessary

    • If poor stands are due to diseases, seed treatments with fungicides can be used in replanting to avoid further damping-off, especially for Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora. If poor stands are due to a low germination rate, a seed treatment cannot improve seed vigor or seed germination rate.
    • Select chemicals according to the fungi that cause the seedling blight. See Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Soybean Seedling Diseases - North Central Regional Committee on Soybean Diseases - Updated February 2019
    • Consider if a better seed bed could be prepared.
    • Consider if soil drainage could be improved, or if low areas of fields could be avoided.

    Cultural practices for healthy seedlings

    The first 10 to 14 days following soybean planting is the window of opportunity for Pythium and other soil fungi to infect the plant. Implement practices that promote quick germination and seedling emergence to prevent infection:

    • Plant seed of good quality
    • Plant seed that has resistance to Phytophthora. Specific resistance is controlled by major resistance genes such as Rps1a, Rps1c or Rps1k (Rps stands for Resistance to Phytophthora sojae). In addition to Rps resistance, select varieties with high field resistance (also called partial resistance or qualitative resistance) when possible.
    • Prepare a good seedbed
    • Plant at the proper planting depth
    • Do not expose seedlings to herbicides
    • Plant where drainage is adequate, or improve drainage if possible. Avoid low areas of fields, especially if a field has a history of seedling or root rot problems.
    • Consider that germination will be quickest when soil temperatures are greater than 65°F
    • Damage by Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora beyond the seedling stages can be reduced by mid-season cultivation. Cultivation mounds the soil around the base of soybean plants, which promotes new growth of roots.

    When to treat seed with fungicides
    Use field history as the key component of the decision-making process for managing seedling disease. Research over the years in all north-central states have shown no consistent significant yield improvement by treating seeds with fungicides unless there is a significant risk of seedling disease.

    Neither early planting nor the use of no-till alone indicates a decision to use seed treatment. Seed treatments may be worth considering in fields that have a history of seed rot, damping off, or premature stem and root decay, or in fields that are prone to slow germination due to poor drainage or other factors. See Factors to consider before using a soybean seed treatment. Crop Protection Network: CPN 4003, 2018.

    Which seed treatment product to use?
    If you decide to use a seed treatment on soybean, it is important to use products that provide broad-spectrum control of many pathogens. The active ingredients metalaxyl and mefenoxam have been used as the primary seed treatments to protect soybean against oomycetes, including both Phytophthora sojae and Pythium spp. There are now two additional fungicide seed treatments available — ethaboxam and oxathiapiprolin — that have efficacy towards P. sojae. Seed treatment should also contain at least one other fungicide active ingredient that will provide broad-spectrum control against Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. See Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Soybean Seedling Diseases - North Central Regional Committee on Soybean Diseases - Updated 2019

  • Resources

  • Photo Gallery

    Seedlings that die in patches or individually within a row are symptoms of seedling blight diseases.

    Seedlings that die in patches or individually within a row are symptoms of seedling blight diseases. Photo: Soybean Seedling Diseases, CPN 1008

    Phytophthora seedling blight

    Phytophthora seedling blight. Photo: Soybean Seedling Diseases CPN 1008

    Seedling blight caused by Pythium

    Seedling blight caused by Pythium. Photo: Iowa State University

    Pythium root rot

    Pythium root rot (left) compared to healthy roots. Photo: North Dakota State University

    Seedlings killed by Rhizoctonia

    Seedlings killed by Rhizoctonia. Photo: University of Minnesota

    Pythium damping off

    Pythium damping off. Photo: University of Wisconsin